MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tua Tagovailoa will probably be sidelined for the staff’s subsequent recreation and maybe longer, his coach mentioned Friday, because the Dolphins QB was advised to focus on being the “beginning quarterback of his household.”
Tagovailoa was injured in a tough collision with Payments security Damar Hamlin within the third quarter of Thursday evening’s 31-10 loss to the visiting Buffalo Payments.
The Dolphins’ subsequent recreation is every week from Sunday as they journey northwest to play the Seattle Seahawks. The choice to play will likely be within the arms of Tagovailoa and his physician, Miami coach Mike McDaniel mentioned.
“I do not see how he would play within the subsequent recreation. I do not see it,” McDaniel advised reporters.
And additional signaling that the Dolphins are ready to go longer with out Tagovailoa, McDaniel mentioned the staff is out there to select up one other quarterback to again up Miami’s now-presumptive starter Skylar Thompson and apply squad QB Tim Boyle.
“The staff and the group are very assured in Skyler,” McDaniel mentioned. “That being mentioned, we are going to herald (one other quarterback).”
Tagovailoa, scrambling to transform on fourth down, handed the road to achieve the primary down earlier than reducing his helmet and going laborious into Hamlin’s torso. The QB hit the bottom and appeared unable to stand up as gamers on each groups instantly known as for medical consideration.
As Tagovailoa left the sector, McDaniel appeared to whisper him a message.
“I advised him he is the beginning quarterback of his household, to go to the locker room, take a deep breath and I will see you quickly,” McDaniel mentioned Friday.
The tackler, Hamlin, almost died about 20 months in the past when he went into cardiac arrest throughout a “Monday Night time Soccer” recreation and needed to be resuscitated on the sector in Cincinnati.
Hamlin didn’t quit his profession regardless of that near-death incident, and McDaniel mentioned he was in no place to advise Tagovailoa on his subsequent transfer.
“I believe it could be so, so incorrect of me to to even sniff that topic,” mentioned McDaniel, fearing he’d add undue stress to Tagovailoa for making such an opinion recognized.
“If I might reply that query, I would be like, ‘All proper, that is my ideas on his profession’ and he learn it, if he agreed with it or he disagreed with it, both approach, I’ve simply made it worse.”
The scary second on “Thursday Night time Soccer” drew the eye of Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce. And in mild of earlier head accidents suffered by Tagovailoa, the previous New York Giants linebacker provided some unsolicited recommendation to the Miami QB.
“I’ll be trustworthy, I’d inform him to retire. It isn’t value it,” Pierce advised reporters on Friday. “It’s not value it. Performed the sport, I haven’t witnessed something like I’ve seen that’s occurred to him thrice. Scary. You’ll be able to see straight away (on Thursday evening), the gamers’ faces on the sector. You’ll be able to see the sense of urgency from all people to get Tua assist.”
Pierce shared McDaniel’s family-first message to the 26-year-old Tagovailoa.
“I simply assume that sooner or later, he’s going to stay longer than he’s going to play soccer,” the Las Vegas coach mentioned. “Handle your loved ones.”
Tagovailoa missed a number of video games of the 2022 season, struggling two scary concussions that 12 months.
He loved a banner 2023 season, throwing for a league-high 4,623 yards. The Dolphins rewarded Tagovailoa in July with a four-year, $212.4 million contract, with $167 million assured.
Jesse Kirsch reported from Miami Gardens, Florida, and David Okay. Li from New York Metropolis.